Ascent of Snowdon on 2010-09-11

Ascent Trip Report

There are several tracks/paths leading up Mount Snowdon, with Llamberis Path being considered the easy walk-up. While this is generally true, it does have a greater vertical ascent that most of the other tracks/paths. I did this ascent at night, in rain being driven by strong winds that had gale force gusts. Climbing 3,000+ feet in these conditions is not a walk in the park. The best part was that the only company I had was 3 mountain bikers who I left behind and the two others who reach the summit from another track.I left Y Gywenned Inn at 4:00 a.m. for the Llamberis Trailhead some 10-12 minutes away (head up the road across from the Victoria Hotel, the trail begins at the cattle grid ~5 minutes from the Victoria Hotel). After leaving the tarmac road (there is a road that services a very few properties that exist within that approach of Snowdon) you pass through several gates to keep the sheep from wondering too far out of bounds (respectfully keep the gates closed). The Llamberis Path is not a whole lot different than the Mountain Trail on Ben Nevis, flat stones and steps have been set to mitigate erosion for much of the length. However, unlike Ben Nevis, when this stone is wet it is not a skating rink!The Llamberis Path is uneventful. There are a couple of bridge overpasses for the Summit Train that provides shelter in adverse conditions. Not that I had visibility, but I did not detect any cliffs 10 meters from the trail as you might find elsewhere. I do imagine that the Miner’s Track or Pyg Track make for a better ascent, and perhaps on a well lit night a greater challenge. But if you face the challenge of the worst of Welsh weather and desire a night time ascent to avoid crowds on Snowdon, the Llamberis Path is a decent choice.